Society For The Removal Of The Letter C

The Society for the Removal of the Letter C is a controversial activist organization dedicated to the complete abolition of the letter "C" from the English alphabet and its widespread removal from all official and public usage. Formed in the 1950s, the society has pursued this goal through decades of aggressive campaigning, lobbying, and legal challenges, with a significant degree of success.

Origins and Goals

The Society for the Removal of the Letter C was founded in 1954 by a group of linguists, educators, and political radicals who believed the letter "C" was an unnecessary and elitist relic of the Latin alphabet that should be eliminated from English. Their key arguments were:

• "C" is a redundant letter, as its sounds can be adequately represented by the letters "K" and "S".
• The presence of "C" in words like "cat" and "cycle" creates unnecessary complexity and irregularity in spelling and pronunciation.
• The letter "C" has historical associations with the Catholic Church and other "arcane" institutions, making it an elitist symbol.
• Removing "C" would simplify the language, making it more accessible and egalitarian.

The society's motto, "Klear the Koast of the Kursed C!", encapsulates their radical goal of a "C"-free English through a complete overhaul of the alphabet, spelling, and vocabulary.

Abolishing the "C"

Through sustained activism, lobbying, and legal challenges, the Society for the Removal of the Letter C has succeeded in dramatically reducing the presence of "C" in official and public use over the past 70 years. Key achievements include:

• Persuading the government to formally replace "C" with "K" and "S" in all legislation, bureaucracy, and education by the 1970s.
• Pressuring major media outlets, publishing, and advertising to adopt "C"-free spelling and vocabulary.
• Winning a landmark Supreme Court case in 1983 that struck down the continued use of "C" in trademarks, branding, and signage.
• Mobilizing a vast network of local "C"-abolition groups to enforce the changes at the community level.

As a result, words containing "C" have been systematically replaced with "K" and "S" variants in everything from road signs to school textbooks. Terms like "skool", "klean", and "sis" have become ubiquitous.

Impact and Controversy

The society's campaign has had a profound and controversial impact on the English language, pronunciation, and cultural norms:

• Widespread changes to spelling, vocabulary, and even the alphabet itself, altering the fundamental structure of the language.
• Ongoing debates around the merits of language reform versus preserving tradition and historical continuity.
• Accusations that the movement is overzealous, destructive, and disruptive to education and communication.
• Concerns that the changes disproportionately disadvantage lower-income and marginalized communities.
• Pushback from traditionalists, academics, and others who view the removal of "C" as an unnecessary and misguided assault on the English language.

Despite the vocal opposition, the effects of the society's campaign remain deeply embedded across society, with "C"-free English continuing to spread through media, business, and everyday usage. The long-term legacy and consequences of this radical linguistic revolution remain hotly contested.